Colored tinsel fabric



Aug. 15, 1933.

w. H. LEES COLORED TINSEL FABRIC led May 31, 1929 Inve nro r. MM m. (AM,

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a colored tinsel fabric. The object of the invention is to provide a colored tinsel fabric of a novel and highly attractive appearance, which is flexible and capable of being used for all of the purposes for which the ordinary gold or silvered tinsel fabric is used, and which in addition may be used for relatively long periods of time without tarnishing.

,With this general object in view, the invention consists in the colored tinsel fabric hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing I haveillustrated a colored tinsel fabric embodying the invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken lengthwise of the warp of the fabric; Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating an embossed colored tinsel fabric; Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating a section of the colored tinsel fabric shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan showing the embossed colored tinsel fabric shown in Fig. 2.

In general the present invention contemplates a colored tinsel fabriccomprising a fabric embodying light reflecting tinsel strands, and which may and preferably will comprise a fabric woven with such tinsel strands as the warp and with the usual cotton threads as weft, and in accordance with the present invention such a fabric is provided with a colored protective layer of a flexible, thin transparent film to provide the surface of the fabric with a colored layer of a character such that the light reflected from the underlying tinsel strands passing through the thin transparent colored layer imparts a highly lustrous and pleasing appearance to the fabric which renders it particularly adapted for use for various decorative purposes. By embossing the colored tinsel fabric thus produced its appearance is enhanced for certain purposes and the irregularities caused by the embossing in the tinsel strands produce reflection of the light in many a different directions through the superposed color layer, imparting to the fabric a highly attractive appearance which enhances the commercial value of the fabric for certain decorative purposes, as will be appreciated.

Referring now to the drawing, 10 represents the body' portion .of the present colored tinsel fabric which may comprise a fabric produced by weaving, braiding or knitting, and which preferably comprises a fabric woven with tinsel strands of gold, silver, or other light reflecting metal as the warp 12 and with the usual cotton or other suitable thread as the weft 13. The tinsel fabric has applied over one or both surfaces thereof a thin transparent, flexible, protective colored layer 14. The transparent color layer 14 may comprise a film produced by the application of any of the known coating compositions by which transparent films of such character may be produced, and in practice I have found that a spirit varnish composed of 5.36 oz. of shellac to one gallon of alcohol, and containing the requisite amount of dye to give the desired hue, will, when applied to the'fabric in a thin film, produce a 5 colored fabric possessing the requisite flexibility to enable it to be used for all general decorative purposes and at the same time to permit the light reflection from the underlying tinsel strands through the colored protective layer to insure the desired attractiveness and lustrous appearance.

By embossing a colored tinsel fabric produced as above described, an embossed colored tinsel fabric shown in Figs. 2 and 4 may be produced in which the tinsel strands 12 are provided with a large number of irregularities or indentations 18. The reflection of the light from the tinsel through the color layer is caused to take place in many directions because of the indentations 18, and in this manner a highly attractive and pleasing sparkle and sheen is imparted to the fabric.

In producing a colored tinsel fabric embodying the present invention, the coating composition, such as the spirit varnish above described, may be applied to the tinsel fabric by various methods. as for example by spraying, or it may be appli by means of a wick submerged in the solution .to convey the coating composition to the fabric without the necessity of. the fabric passing through the solution. A brush partially submerged in the coating composition may be used as the wick. These methods enable a film of sufficient thinness to be applied to insure the desired flexibility.

After the fabric has been coated on one or both sides, the coated fabric is dried, preferably by passage through an oven, and the relatively rapid drying of the coating appears to add to the brilliancy and lustrous appearance.

The present colored tinsel fabrics may be used with advantage in the manufacture of ladies slippers, trimmings for millinery, overdrapes for windows, and for general decorative purposes, particularly for the theatrical trade. In addition to enhancing the appearance of the ordinary uncoated tinsel fabrics and consequently of extending the fleld within which such fabrics may be used, the coating layer also serves as a protective layer, increasing the length of time that silver tinsel may be used without tarnishing.

The present colored tinsel fabric lends itself to the production of designs in different colors and this may be conveniently accomplished by spraying a second colored coating composition onto a previously produced colored tinsel fabric through a stencil or other device for producing these designs.

As used in the specification and claims, the words tinsel strand" are intended to define and include tinsel lahm or tinsel lame, tinsel thread, and any other forms in which tinsel may be incorporated in a fabric.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric body portion embodying tinsel strands provided upon one surface with a thin transparent flexible color layer through which light may be reflected from the tinsel strands.

2. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric body portion embodying embossed tinsel strands provided upon one surface with a thin transparent flexible color layer through which light may be reflected from the embossed tinsel strands.

3. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric .body portion woven with tinsel strands as the'warp, and provided upon one surface with a thin transparent flexible color layer through which light may be reflected from the tinsel strands.

4. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric body portion woven with tinsel strands as the warp and threads as the weft, and provided with a thin transparent flexible color layer covering the warp and weft and through which light may be reflected from the tinsel strands.

5. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric body portion embodying tinsel strands provided on one surface with a protective layer comprising a spirit varnish containing dye and through which light may be reflected from the tinsel strands.

6. A woven tinsel fabric having a thin transparent protective layer covering the tinsel strands in the fabric.

'1. A colored tinsel fabric comprising a woven fabric body portion embodying tinsel strands provided upon one surface with a thin transparent flexible color layer of one color, and provided with a second similar layer in a different color and forming a design.

WILLIAM H. LEES. 

